Although some were visiting their homes in the region, none of Arkansas Tech University's international students were victims of the recent Asian tsunami, said Amy Pennington, director of international and multicultural student services.

"We were really blessed that we didn't have any of our students hurt by the storm," Pennington said. "I know other universities weren't as fortunate."

On Tuesday, world leaders visited southern Asia to get a firsthand glimpse of the damage from the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 139,488 people, according to the Associated Press.

According to AP reports, relief workers said they expect the death toll to soar by tens of thousands because surveys of the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, which was closest to the quake, show it was hit much harder than previously thought.

Pennington said ATU's international students from India, Indonesia, Thailand and other countries in the area have been accounted for and are all safe.

"When I first heard about the tsunami, I was very worried because every country that was affected we have students from," she said. "But I have been able to call and speak with them, and they are all OK."

She said several of the international students are from India and Thailand, but, when they were contacted, they assured Pennington that none of their families had been affected.

Another student, from Indonesia, was visiting home during the holiday break, but Pennington said she had spoken with him as well and that he and his family were doing fine.

"We were very fortunate," Pennington said. "I was relieved that all of our students, and their families, are safe."

Pennington said she also worried that the storms would affect travel out of those Asian countries. However, she said the students who have booked flights to return to the United States plan to arrive as scheduled.

"We have some students from India who were coming here to begin school in the spring semester, and I didn't know if they would be able to fly in, but they're still coming," she said.